Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 19: It is almost certain that gram panchayat (GP) elections will be held in the state during May. The politicians and strategists who were enjoying some rest after Lok Sabha election have to begin working again to woo the rural electorate.

Even though GP elections are fought without the party symbol, they are as keen and well-fought as Lok Sabha and assembly elections. For the local leaders, it is an opportunity to prove their mettle as their status in the party goes up if the candidates fielded by the party win.

The BJP will be faced with the need to maintain its position of eminence as it is ruling in the state and the centre. For the Congress, which bit the dust in Lok Sabha election, it has to resuscitate its image and revive itself from its current position.

The fact that the BJP has emphasized organizational matters might come in handy for the party. It has made changes in the committees and given responsibilities to young leaders. In comparison, Congress has been sluggish in organizational matters. It also is faced with factionalism in certain pockets. It has to contend with all these problems and work hard to make room in the hearts of the voters of the district.

The BJP had done poorly in the 2013 assembly election. In the GP election in 2015, it did well to come to power in 129-gram panchayats out of 227. Congress was voted to power in 80-gram panchayats. In Udupi, BJP won in 89-gram panchayats as against 54 by the Congress.

Sudarshan Moodbidri, Dakshina Kannada district president of BJP, says that currently, presidents and office bearers for Mandal committees are being elected. He said new committees have been formed at the booth level. Given the upcoming gram panchayat election, booth level committee meetings are being held now. Arrangements are being made to hold an election under the guidance of BJP state president and legislators in a systematic way, he explained.

Congress member of the legislative council, Ivan D'Souza, said that those who fought assembly election with party symbol will lead the election campaign. He said his party has a strong rural base. "Block-level meetings are held because of the coming gram panchayat election. Candidates will be chosen as soon as the election is declared," he stated.